Committees approve 5-year renewal of Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders waiver

The Human Services Committee and the Appropriations Committee approved the five-year renewal of the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) 1915(c) waiver on Sept. 11, 2025, allowing the state to submit the waiver renewal to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) told the committees the renewal does not make substantive changes to the waiver, which currently serves more than 15,000 older adults who are at risk of institutionalization. William Halsey, Medicaid director at the Department of Social Services, introduced the application and said DSS was seeking committee support to submit the renewal to CMS.

The waiver renewal was approved in a roll call vote in Human Services and again in Appropriations. Human Services recorded a tally of 17 yea, 6 absent; the Appropriations recorded 41 yea, 0 nay, 12 absent. The motion in Human Services was moved by Representative Nathan and seconded by Senator Anwar; the Appropriations motion was moved by Senator Lesser and seconded by Representative Dathan.

Why it matters: CHCPE supports a package of home- and community-based services for Connecticut residents age 65 and older, including adult day health, personal care…